Template



United States Patent O 3,376,650 TEMPLATE George M. Cook, 54 W. Park St., Brockton, Mass. 02401 Filed Feb. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 526,802 7 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A template having an even number of parallel slots extending thereacross and a pair of framing slots parallel thereto at one end of length equal to the distance between one half of the parallel slots, the upper framing slot spaced from the end of the template a distance equal to the distance between one side of the template and the ends of the parallel slots thereadjacent, the framing slots each also having ends spaced from the other side of the template a distance equal to the distance between the lower framing slot and the adjacent parallel slot.

This invention relates to a template and more particularly to a template for assisting the accurate drawing of a plurality of horizontal and vertical lines.

A primary object vof this invention is to provide a template which permits the accurate drawing and locating of horizontal and vertical lines such that one of the vertical lines accurately crosses and joins a predetermined number of the horizontal lines. Another object of this invention is to provide such a template which will permit the rapid setting up of a test form or the like on master mimeographs or stencils or the like.

The invention features a template having a plurality of parallel slots whose ends are equidistantly spaced from a side edge of the template and extending toward the other side edge thereof. At least one framing slot is also provided in the template between said parallel slots and one end of the template. The framing slot has a predetermined length less than the total distance between the parallel slots and extends parallel thereto from adjacent one of the said side edges of the template. The framing slot is spaced from said one end of the template a distance equal to the spacing between the ends of said parallel slots and said one side edge. Finally, the framing slot is spaced from the said one side a distance equal to the distance between a predetermined reference point and one of said parallel slots. By drawing lines iirst through the parallel slots and then turning the template to line up the one side with the reference point, another line can readily be drawn connecting the lines drawn through the slots.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a template according to the invention on a sheet of paper;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan View similar to FIG. 1 showing lines drawn horizontally on the paper and the template turned and aligned preparatory to drawing vertical lines; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fully lined paper.

The template as shown in FIGS. l and 2 is of thin, preferably transparent, sheet material and has an even number plurality of parallel, horizontal slots 12 equidistantly spaced from each other. The ends of parallel slots 12 are equally spaced from side edges 14, 16 of the template. Top edge 18 is parallel to slots 12 and side edges 14, 16 are at right angles thereto.

Positioned parallel to and between the uppermost of the parallel slots 12 and the top edge 18 of the template, adjacent side edge 16, are a pair of framing slots A20, 22, one above the other. Framing slots 20, 22 are of length equal to the vertical distance between one half of the parallel slots. Upper framing slot 20 is spaced from the top edge 18 of the template a distance equal to the distance from side edge 14 to the adjacent ends of parallel slots 12. The ends of framing slots 20, 22 are spaced from side edge 16 a distance equal to the distance from the uppermost of the parallel slots 12 to the lower framing slot 22. Lower framing slot 22 is preferably spaced from the uppermost of the parallel slots 12 by a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent parallel slots l12.

Additional reference slots 24, 26 may also be provided with at least portions thereof in alignment with lower framing slot 22. Likewise, indicia or circular guide apertures 28, 30 may be provided midway across and adjacent the uppermost lof the parallel slots 12 and midway across and adjacent the lower of the middle two parallel slots 12.

In use, the top and left side edges 14, 1'8 of the template are lined up with the paper 32 to be ruled as in FIGS. l and 2. Lines are then drawn through slots 12, 20, 22, 24, 26 and marks made at the indicia or through apertures 28, 30'. The lines 34, 36, 38 drawn through reference slots 22, 24, and 26 respectively fonn a reference line and together with the line drawn through slot 20 provide a convenient ruling for a title or heading.

Template 10 is then rotated counterclockwise 90, as in FIG. 3. Side edge 16 is lined up with reference lines 22, 24, 26 and top edge 18 is lined up with the edge of paper 32. Lines are then drawn through framing slots 20, 22 connecting and vertically ruling the upper half of the parallel lines drawn through slots 12. Template 10 may be moved to align upper framing slot 20 with the mark made at the indicia or through aperture 28. Lines drawn through framing slots 20, 22 at this point provide a division of lines 12 into two equal parts. To complete the ruling of the vertical lines, the template is moved to the lower half of the paper using as a reference point the lower line of the upper group of lines and then repeating the vertical ruling steps as before. Although it is preferred to have framing slots 20, 22 of length equal to the distance between one half of the parallel slots 12, to conveniently divide the form intoy equal upper and lower halves, other arrangements are possible. Thus, the framing slots 20, 22 could be lengthened one half a space between slots 12, to permit optional ruling, in two steps, of 'lines extending continuously between the lines drawn through slots 12. Alternatively, the framing slots could be shortened to provide addtional divided portions of a test form. In any event, vertical lines drawn through the framing slots 20, 22 will always commence at the end of the line drawn through the upper of the parallel slots 12.

It will be appreciated that, although the length of framing slots 20, 22 is referred to in the specification and appended claims as equal to the total of the distances between one half of the parallel slots 12, it may be necessary to increase the length slightly to permit a line to be drawn therethrough which is equal to that distance. Thus a slot of exactly that distance might interfere with a writing instrument therein resulting in too short a line.

Other embodiments of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art which are within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

'1. A rectangular template of thin sheet material having side and end edges and a plurality of apertures therein comprising:

a plurality of parallel slots having ends adjacent to and equidistantly spaced from a side edge of said material and extending toward the other side edgeY thereof; and a reference aperture between one of said parallel slots and one end edge of said material;

a framing slot of predetermined length less than the total of the distances between said parallel slots, positioned parallel to said parallel slots between said parallel slots and said one end edge of said material, said framing slot spaced from said one end of said material by an amount equal to the equidistant spacing of said parallel slots from said side edge, and an end of said framing slot adjacent one side edge of vsaid material spaced therefrom by an amount equal to the distance between said one of said parallel slots and said reference aperture.

2. The template claimed in claim 1 including a pair of framing slots one above the other, the upper said framing slot spaced from said one end by an amount equal to the equidistantspacing of said parallel slots from said side edge and an end of each said framing slots each spaced from said one side edge by an amount equal to the distance between said one of said parallel slots and said reference aperture, said framing slots being of equal length and in alignment.

3. The template claimed in claim 2 in which an end of each of said framing slots is spaced from said one side edge by an amount equal to the distance between the lower of said -framing slots and the adjacent parallel slot and the lower of said framing slots comprises said 3 reference aperture.

4.,The template claimed in claim 3 in which said y 1.1,? f side edge from which( said parallel slots are equidistantly spaced is the sideedge opposite said one side edge.`

5. The template claimed in claim 4 in which said framing slots have a length equal to the distance between a predetermined number of said parallel slots.

6. The template claimedin claim 5 in whichsaid plurality of parallel slots is an even number plurality of equidistantly spaced parallel slots and said framing slots have a length equal to the distance between one half of said parallel slots.

7. The template claimed in claim 6- in which said lower framing slot is spaced from said adjacent parallel slot a distance equal to the distance between adjacent parallel slots. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,059 9/1915 Heathcote 33-104 1,544,327 6/ 1925 Loewenthal 33-174 1,633,163 6/1927 Crouse 33--174X 1,839,561 1/1932 Kaufman 33-108 -X 2,993,277 7/1961 Felstein 33--174 X FOREIGN PATENTS` 294,822 8/ 1928 Great Britain.V

OTHER REFERENCES Templateforthe Stock Lists on Drawings, an article by J. E. Fenno, American Machinist, vol. 69, No.4, 6, 26, 1828, p. 16s-*copy in 33-174.

SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Primary Examiner. 

